Around Old Bethany - A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary Davis

Around Old Bethany

Around Old Bethany

Around Old Bethany (A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary Davis)

Around Old Bethany IIllustrated): A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary Davis

Around old Bethany: A story of the adventures of Robert and Mary Davis

Around Old Bethany

Around Old Bethany (A Story of the Adventures of Robert and Mary Davis)

"So there is such a thing as man composed of matter such as body, andblood, and bones.

"2. Man is incapable of sin.

"Let us see what the Bible says of this proposition," continuedRobert.

"'For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Rom. 3:23).

"'Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures' (1 Cor. 15:3).

"'He shall save his people from their sins' (Matt. 1:21).

"3. Man is incapable of sickness.

"'Is any sick among you' what shall he do?" asked Robert, quotingJas. 5:14, 15. "Let him deny that he is sick, and claim that he isincapable of being sick? No. 'Let him call for the elders ... and theprayer of faith shall save the sick.'

"David said of the Lord, 'Who healeth all thy diseases' (Psa. 103:3).

"4. Man is incapable of death.

"It seems that no scripture is needed to refute this falsehood. Menof past ages are dead. Mrs. Eddy herself will die, all ChristianScientists die, for 'it is appointed unto men once to die, but afterthis the judgment.'"

"My, the Bible is hard on Christian Science doctrine, isn't it,"said Kate Newby. "I did not think to read and compare Mrs. Eddy'sstatements with the Bible."

"Indeed it is," said Robert Davis. "The Bible states facts as theyare. Man did sin, and all men have sinned. The plan of salvation, inall its vast provisions for men, came about because of man's need,because of man's fall. Man has sinned. Oh, it is all too plain todeny. The bruised and wounded hearts of mothers and wives, the bowedheads of grief-stricken fathers over the sins of their loved ones,prove all too painfully that sin is real."

"I know it is, too," said Jake Newby. "My heart yearns for deliverancefrom sin right now. Kate, turn from this deception. You see it is notright. It denies facts."

"Now, as a matter of fact," said Robert Davis, "mind has considerableinfluence over matter, but, after saying that, it is not necessary togo to the absurd extent as to deny that there is matter."

"I see it now," said Kate, "there is a subtle connection between mindand our bodies, but I see that if, because of that, I should denyfacts, my state would be no better and probably worse. I give up thewhole system as being contrary to reason, sense, and the Scriptures."

A few days after this Robert was called to Kansas City on business,where he remained a week. Now, it so happened that while he was awayfrom home on this business trip, a colporteur of the Seventh-DayAdventists denomination came through the country and sold Mary Davisthe book entitled Daniel and the Revelation, also several tracts, oneof which was entitled "Who Changed the Sabbath?" Mary Davis hadnever before heard of anything on the Sabbath question, and whenthe colporteur told her about how the Sabbath had been changed fromSaturday to Sunday (according to Adventist theories), and howthey, the Adventists, were in a great reformation to restore theSabbath-day, she was considerably interested. Open-hearted fortruth, she was peculiarly susceptible at that time to the claims ofAdventism.

Mary spent the next few days in reading her newly bought literature.It seemed plausible to her that if God gave the Ten Commandments as aperpetual covenant, the seventh day should still be kept. The more sheread the more she was convinced. By the time Robert returned shehad begun to count herself a seventh-day keeper. Robert Davis wassurprised beyond measure when he returned and found his house full ofAdvent literature.

"Well, Mary dear, what does all this mean?" asked Robert kindly.

"Why, Robert," she said, "while you were gone a colporteur came herewith these books. He seemed so earnest and he talked for hours abouta reformation and how the Catholics had changed the Sabbath and abouthow God had set himself to restore the day to Christendom. I have beenreading the books and they make it very plain that we ought to keepSaturday."

"Now, come here, dear," said Robert, "let me point out to you thefalse and unscriptural position which these zealots hold."

Mary felt a little indignant at this, but she complied, willing toknow the truth. However, she was secretly determined to keep theSabbath-day unless very good reasons were shown why she should not.

"First, Mary, let me ask a few questions," said Robert. "Did thecolporteur say anything about living holy or nearer to God?"

"No," said Mary, "he talked almost exclusively about the Sabbath-day."

"Very well," said Robert. "Did he say the Ten Commandments were stillin full force?"

"Yes, he did, Robert, and he made it very plain that God's law couldnot change," said Mary.

"Did he say the Catholics changed the Sabbath-day from Saturday toSunday?" asked Robert.

"'But if the ministration of death, written and engraven with stones,was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastlybehold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glorywas to be done away:'" read Mary.

"You need not read the rest of the chapter now," said Robert, "butthis verse and the verses following show beyond all question orargument that the Ten Commandments were a 'ministration of death' andwere abolished in Christ. That law was glorious, but that glory waseclipsed by the greater glory of the New Testament law. Now turn toGal. 4:21-31. Read verse 24 first."

"'Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; theone from mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar,'"read Mary.

"This passage proves," said Robert, "that Paul was showing byAbraham's two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, Isaac by Sarah, and Ishmael byHagar, that the covenant at Sinai was to be cast out, just as Hagarand Ishmael were cast out of Abraham's home. The verse you readdeclares that the Ten Commandments, covenant, law, and all from Sinaicorrespond with Hagar. What happened to her? She was cast out. So theold Ten-Commandment law is cast out in favor of a better one. Now turnto Hebrews 8 and read the last verse."

"'In that he saith, a new covenant, he hath made the first old. Nowthat which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.'"

"Plain enough, isn't it, Mary?" asked Robert. "God found fault withthe old covenant (see verse 7) and so he took it away."

"But, Robert," said Mary, "does this mean that it is right to lie, orsteal, or kill? If the Ten Commandments are done away with, how willthese sins be condemned?" And Mary was really puzzled about it.

"Why, Mary," said Robert, "the Ten Commandments did not make it wrongto lie and steal. It was always wrong to lie and steal even beforethere were any Ten Commandments. Wrong is wrong. Now in Christ's lawevery possible wrong is condemned. Do you see the point? Now, theSabbath-day law is the Fourth Commandment of the Ten. But that Sabbathlaw was given to the Jews only. They could keep it where they lived,but everybody can't keep it now at the same time even if they shouldwant to."

"You see we live on a round earth," continued Robert, "and the sunshines somewhere all the time. Now Israel could keep the seventh dayall right in Palestine, but suppose that they had been scattered overall the earth? Then a Jew in Australia would be keeping his Sabbathabout eighteen hours before his brother in California. The day beginsout in the Pacific Ocean, not because it really begins there, butbecause for the sake of convenience it was fixed to begin there. Thewhole arrangement is artificial. Now, would God put so much emphasison keeping a certain day under such circumstances? Adventists thinkit is very wrong to work on the Sabbath-day, yet some of them workas much as twelve hours while their brethren on the other side of theearth are keeping their Sabbath. It is impossible for all the earth tokeep the Sabbath at the same time."

"Well, I never thought of that before," said Mary, as her Adventismbegan to leave her about as quickly as it came.

"Now the fact is, too, Mary," said Robert, "that the Catholics didnot change the Sabbath-day. They may claim to have done so and theAdventists accept the claim, it appears, but the early Christianskept the first day of the week Sunday, long before there was any RomanCatholic Church or any pope at Rome. Adventists twist history herejust like they twist the Scriptures."

"Listen here, dear," continued Robert. "'I was in the Spirit on theLord's Day' (Rev. 1:10). What day was the Lord's Day? It was notSaturday, the Sabbath. Pentecost, that grand birthday of the church,was on Sunday (Acts 2:1-4). The disciples met to break bread on thefirst day of the week--Sunday (Acts 20:6, 7). The laying-by ofthe collection for the saints was made on the first day of theweek--Sunday (1 Cor. 16:1, 2). On the Sabbath-day Jesus lay cold indeath in the borrowed tomb while the sad and disconsolate disciplesmourned the death of the Prince of Israel, their Savior. But onSunday morning Christ arose triumphant (John 20:1) and in memory of itChristians began early to observe Sunday as a day of worship."

"Mary, you were just about to be entangled with a yoke of bondage,a yoke of man's making," said Robert. "This Sabbath doctrine of theAdventists is utterly man-made. In their writings the apostles didnot teach the keeping of it; so why go away back to bleak and smokingSinai for a law to keep when Jesus offers us a new covenant? Why thoseAdventists are trying to prop up a law that was old, and decayed, andready to vanish away in Paul's time."

"Did Constantine make a Sunday law, Robert?" asked Mary.

"Yes, he did. In A.D. 321, Constantine legalized the day of worshipthat the Christians already were using," said Robert. "The Adventistsclaim that Constantine changed the day, but he did not. There is nohistory at all to support their theory. He was the first Christianemperor of Rome and simply gave legal sanction to a day already setapart for worship, which was Sunday. This was long before there wasany pope."

"Well, I am very glad you came home when you did," said Mary. "It wasa providence. I see the snare set for me, and I shall fly out from it,by God's grace."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

OUT OF THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW

Two months after Robert Davis arrived home, Mary took violently ill.First there was a high fever, then convulsions, then paralysis.Dr. Horton came at once to see what he could do. After a carefulexamination he said she had typhoid fever and progressive paralysisand that she was in grave danger. After a day or two she rallied,regained consciousness, and was able to converse with the family.Little Janet was just one month old the day Mary took sick, and Mrs.Jake Newby, now a very dear friend, took the child and nursed it.

Mary knew, as well as anyone, that she was very ill. She talked itover with Robert. Together they most earnestly prayed that God wouldspare her life, for Robert's sake, and especially for little Janet'ssake. But though her mind remained remarkably clear, her body sankdeeper down into the jaws of death. Mary was led to consecrate all toGod; so in a very simple and humble way she resigned her all to Him.

"The will of God be done," she said, "whether I live or die, wake orsleep, I am the Lord's, body, soul, mind, will, all. Have Thine owndear way with me, Lord Jesus, work out Thy will in me. If I live Ishall be always all for Thee, if I die, I am Thine alone. Take from myheart every selfish desire and reign, dear Jesus, on Thy royal thronethere. Purge me pure, O Christ, so pure that I can come into Thyeffulgent presence without one fear, without one sin, but insteadwith great joy. I want to be able to greet Thee, blessed Christ, asmy dearest, sweetest friend without a doubt as to my entire acceptancewith Thee. Oh, come, Jesus, come in all Thy power to fully save me,just for Thine own dear sake. Amen, amen."

Mary closed her eyes. She lay there, so quiet, as if the angel ofdeath had claimed her for His own. A sweet smile of satisfactionspread over her face. It seemed some angel voice had whisperedsomething ineffably sweet to her. Robert hardly knew what to do orto say. She lay there so motionless, so still, yet there was such asweet, holy awe, such a spiritual atmosphere, just as ii the roomwere full of angels, that it seemed he could not cry. Kate Newby wasgreatly affected. Her mind went back to that night in her home afterRobert Davis had made his confession.

Then there came stealing over Mary's wan face a smile that broke intothe sweetest laughter. "Praise the Lord," she said.

"Is everything well with you, Mary?" Robert asked.

"All is well," she said. "I am ready to go, if the Lord calls for me."

Mary continued very low for several days. She hung between life anddeath and at times it seemed that the thread would snap and her soulwould be released. All hope of recovery had fled.

"Robert, Robert, come here," she said one day. "I feel so happy. Iwonder if I am going to die! Heaven must be a beautiful place, Robert.I had the most wonderful dream or vision a while ago. I thought I wasin heaven and it was so rich and beautiful. I saw a little baby there;its wings were tinted in all the colors of the rainbow and its robeseemed to be of the finest, whitest silk. I just wanted to grasp thedear thing, but it eluded me and flew up into one of the trees oflife.

"Robert," she continued in a low voice, "what will you and Janet do ifI die? Oh, I hate to leave you here alone. Poor little Janet, she willnever have mother's hand to smooth away the care from her brow or towipe the tears from her innocent eyes. I would so like to stay. Poorlittle Janet! Bring her here, papa, and lay her down by my side so Ican see her, and I want to lay my hand on her sweet, velvet face."

They brought Janet and laid her down on the bed by Mary and then Marylaid her hand over on the baby's face and caressing it softly said:

"Sweet little one, I love you. You are a part of me. Shall I leaveyou in this cold world with no mama to see after you? Poor child, whatwill you do? But Jesus will help you if He takes me away from you. OJesus, bless Janet, bless Papa, bless Kate, bless everybody."

Mary lay there so quiet again. Tears were flowing from the eyes ofeveryone in the room. Robert could hardly restrain himself. He wasbroken-hearted. Kate Newby burst out in a cry of sorrow and sympathy.Then Mary, after a few moments, opened her eyes and said: "I have justbeen hearing the most wonderful music. Did you hear it, Robert? Itmust have been the angels, for they all had long white robes. Oh, itwas so pretty and lovely." Then she sank away again. Everyone thoughtthat she would soon be gone, but as night wore on she still breathedand was no worse in the morning. The month before this sickness Roberthad hunted up one of the old religious papers which had then ceasedcoming, and had sent in his subscription. Two or three copies hadalready come. As Mary continued very low he had had time to read. Oneday his eyes were attracted to the testimony of a woman who had beenhealed. He also found a short article on healing in which it wasstated that any of the ministers of the church of God would be gladto pray for any sick person. It was evident that Mary was beyond thepower of medicine to heal. Dr. Horton had given her up and no moremedicine was being given her.

"I wonder if any of the church of God ministers are near Bethany,"said Robert to himself. His eyes began to run over the pages insearch of a minister close enough to send for. Then he saw a meetingannounced for Sayersville, October 1-10. Sayersville was only fiftymiles north of Bethany. The minister in charge was D.W. Monteith.

That same hour a telegram was sent as follows:

"D.W. Monteith, Sayersville, Mo.

"Come at once Pray for my wife Very sick

"Robert Davis, Bethany, Mo."

Robert was at the station at seven o'clock the next morning to meetthe minister. He wondered just what kind of a man a church of Godminister would be. When they met he found a plain, neat-looking manwith a kind, strong face, ready to go to the bedside of his wife.

"Be of good cheer, Brother Davis," said the minister, "the Lord hasgreat power. He can raise up your wife. Up at Sayersville last weeka man was thrown from a train and seriously hurt, but the Lord healedhim. Have faith in God."

Robert Davis thought he had never heard words so encouraging as those,nor had he seen a man who entered so heartily into his burdens.Here was a man from whom he felt the warm, free flow of Christianfellowship.

When they drove up to the house Mary was awake.

"Mary, dear," said Robert, "this is Brother Monteith, a minister ofthe church of God. He has come to pray for you."

"I'm so glad you have come, Brother," said Mary. "We need yourprayers."

"Are you all the Lord's, sister?" inquired the minister.

"Oh, yes, all the Lord's," she replied. "All given up, to go or tostay. But I wish so much to stay. See my little baby over here."

The minister breathed a short prayer for guidance. "Is it your will toheal her, Lord?" he prayed. He felt an answer that God would raise herup.

Then he took out a small vial of olive oil, anointed the brow of Marywith it, and said:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, we anoint you with this oil infulfillment of James 5:14,15, 'Is any sick among you? let him call forthe elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing withoil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith shall save thesick, and the Lord shall raise him up.' Now, Lord, we claim thispromise in behalf of this woman. Inspire her faith. Send Thy healingvirtue. Destroy this disease and heal her for thy glory. Amen.

"Now, sister, arise in the name of Jesus," he said gently.

The mighty power of God fell upon Mary Davis in a moment of time.She raised up in bed, lifted her hand toward heaven and said, "I amhealed."

The news spread over the community rapidly. Several of the neighborshad been there when she was healed. They went home telling it to allthey met. Next day several people drove up to see what had happened.Mary was sitting up in a chair as happy as she could be and readyto tell all comers what great things the Lord had done for her. KateNewby said that she was very glad that she had dropped ChristianScience. "This is real divine healing," she said.

The healing of Mary Davis made a great stir in the neighborhood.Several preachers felt it their duty to warn people against divinehealing. It is mostly excitement, they said, when one is healed, asMary Davis was. Others ridiculed it. Some said that she never had beensick, but others knew that she had been sick, and a few gave God thepraise for the work done.

But this healing attracted attention to the doctrines of holiness andthe church of God that Robert Davis had been talking about. It becamea topic of earnest discussion as to which church was right. Many wereasking, "I wonder if Davis is not right, after all, in claiming thatthere should be a better, purer, more powerful, more spiritual churchthan what we have here."

As for Robert Davis, he determined to have a revival conducted byBrother Monteith.

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE REVIVAL MEETING IN BETHANY

In three weeks the church of God revival was to begin in Bethany,according to previous arrangements made between Robert Davis andEvangelist Monteith. Meanwhile Robert Davis studied the churchquestion assiduously. His study of the Bible led him to accept theBible name--church of God--but he knew that the right name did notnecessarily make a church right that had adopted it. The church mustbe in and of itself the real church and then the name would naturallyapply to it.

When the evangelist came, Robert asked him the very first day,"Brother Monteith, tell me about the church of God. I see by the Biblethat in the apostles' time there was one church called the churchof God, but what became of it? Where is it now? All I can see isa multitude of churches. Can you tell me what has happened to theapostolic church? Tell me the full history, please."

"Very well, Brother Davis, I shall do the best that I can to give youa brief account of the church," he said. "The church of God was builtby Jesus Christ, organized and filled with power by the Holy Ghost onthe day of Pentecost, and was then sent forth on her glorious missionof working with Christ to save a lost world.

"The first step toward world evangelism followed the persecution ofthe church in Jerusalem when 'they that were scattered abroad wenteverywhere preaching the word.'

"The second step was taken when Paul and Barnabas, with Mark, setforth from Antioch in Syria on the first missionary tour of the earlychurch. On this tour several local churches of the general churchof God were raised up through the salvation of Jews and Gentiles inAntioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and other places in the Romanprovinces of Asia Minor.

"The third great step was taken when Paul and his companions, on thesecond tour, crossed the Aegean to Europe and thus began the conquestof Europe for Jesus Christ. Local churches were planted inPhilippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth, to each of which Paul wroteepistles--Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 and 2 Corinthians.Before Paul's death he had preached in Rome, the capital of theRoman Empire, one of the greatest empires of all time. While Paul wasestablishing congregations of the one church in the West, the otherapostles were raising up local congregations elsewhere.

"Everywhere this church was known as the 'church of God.' In thecentury after the apostles the name 'catholic' which means universal,was applied to it. There was one church. Congregations embracedthousands in some of the larger cities. Antioch in Syria is said tohave had thousands of Christians within its borders.

"What a glorious church that early church was, Bro. Davis, you havealready seen in your Scripture investigation. With the breaking forthof the glorious light of the gospel there arose the true church ofGod, spotless in her purity, glorious in her power, and adorned withthe rich graces and gifts of the Spirit. And in three hundred yearsthis church broke down paganism and Constantine had made Christianitythe religion of the Roman Empire.

"But this glorious church was not to remain glorious. Sad but true,there came an apostasy foretold by the apostles. Peter foretold it (2Pet. 2:1, 2). Paul foretold it (2 Thess. 2:3, 4). And notice how farshort some of the seven churches of Asia were before John's death(Rev. 2 and 3). Marsh's Church History says: 'Almost proportionatewith the extension of Christianity was the decrease in the churchof vital piety. A philosophizing spirit among the higher, and a wildmonkish superstition among the lower orders, fast took the place inthe third century of the faith and humility of the first Christians.Many of the clergy became very corrupt, and excessively ambitious. Inconsequence of this, there was an awful deflection of Christianity.'Milner's Church History says: 'And if the faith of Christ was so muchdeclined (and its decayed state ought to be dated from about the year270), we need not wonder that such scenes as Eusebius hints at withoutany circumstantial details took place in the Christian world.'

"When Constantine made Christianity the religion of Rome theapostatizing processes were greatly accelerated. The constitution ofthe church was patterned after that of the civil government. The HolySpirit had to retire from the active government of the church becauseforms and legality had taken place. The Word of God ceased to haveauthority, its place being taken by the laws and decrees of thecouncils. The clergy arose to great power and pomp and there was along line of graduations made in the ministry, some of these officesgiven much more authority than others."

"Is that the way the papacy was formed?" asked Robert.

"Indeed it was," said the preacher. "The chief minister of largecities obtained control of the ministry of that city and surroundingtowns. These chief ministers were called diocesans. Ministers in stillmore prominent places came to have a still wider authority andwere called metropolitans, those over large districts were calledpatriarchs, and so the grasping for supremacy went on. Whenthe Mohammedan conquest had reduced the importance of the otherpatriarchates, the conflict for supremacy lay between the Patriarchof Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople. At last the Patriarch ofRome gained the greater prestige and authority and was called pope,and became supreme head of the Western or Roman Catholic Church.

"The great apostasy lasted twelve hundred and sixty years, or untilA.D. 1530. This time was foretold in Rev. 12:6; 14-17, where thewoman, under which figure the church is presented, fled into thewilderness for 1260 days or 'a time, and times, and half a time,' andin chapter 13:1-10, the beast, under which figure Roman Catholicism isrepresented, had power to continue 'forty and two months,' (forty-twomonths) or 1260 days, which, taking the usual Biblical method ofinterpreting prophetical time (see Dan. 4:25; Num. 14:34; and Ezek.4:6) means 1260 years.

"The Roman Catholic supremacy was broken by the sixteenth-centuryReformation. The Augsburg Confession of Faith, prepared by Melanchthonand Luther, was formed in A.D. 1530. This was the first Protestantcreed.

"Then followed the great day of Protestantism when creeds anddenominations sprang up in every direction and upon many pretenses.God's sheep were scattered and divided, as it was foretold in Ezek.34:11-25. The true church of Jesus Christ was lost sight of. It wasspoken of as the invisible church, while the denominations were thevisible churches. Men joined churches because they thought that it wasthe right thing to do.

"About the year 1880, or 350 years after the Augsburg Confession, A.D.1530, a deep conviction seized a number of earnest, sanctified peoplethat the denominational system was wrong, utterly unscriptural. Theybegan to preach a pure Bible church of which salvation alone makes menmembers."

"When these prophets began to teach the unity of God's peoplethousands saw the wrong of remaining in the denominations; so theycame out. In fact, Brother Davis, God's sheep would naturally staytogether if they were not induced to separate. The denominations havegood Christians in them, but there are many members who do not have anexperimental knowledge of grace and these have led many churches intoworldliness and formality."

"I see it," said Robert. "The church was hidden down through theCatholic and Protestant ages and is just now again coming out andstanding aloof and clear for God and her blessed founder, JesusChrist. Oh, praise God! it is all so plain now. Thank God."

On the third night of the meeting a mob formed to frighten theminister out of town and to destroy the meeting. Old Peter Newbyhelped organize it. The ammunition consisted of a vast assortment ofancient eggs, also stones, brickbats, and a few clubs and sticks. Themob stormed the house about the time of the close of a powerful sermonon A Better Testament. Windows crashed, portions of egg bespatteredmany, several persons were struck by missiles, and a great hubbub wascreated. The evangelist was the quietest person in the house, thoughhis clothing bore mute evidence that the egg-brigade had singled himout as their target.

The mob did not come into the house; so after a few temporaryadjustments an altar call was given and seven came to the altar, amongwhom were old Mr. Stephenson and Charley Moss.

On the next day rumors flew thick and fast. The wildest stories weretold. Some heard that the evangelist was killed, and great excitementstirred the whole community. That night some were too much afraidto go, others went out of sheer curiosity, while one partisan of theevangelist formed a band of men in favor of him, and they sent wordboth to the evangelist and to the mob leader that they would be onhand that night to protect the preacher. Needless to say everythingwas perfectly quiet and the meeting closed without furtherdisturbance.

The last night Evangelist Monteith preached on The Judgment Day, andhe pictured the doom of sinners until the stillness of death pervadedthe room. Great conviction rested upon the people. At the altar callseveral went forward and found glorious peace at the foot of thecross.

The last good-bys were said with eyes brimming with tears.

"I shall see you again, God willing," said the evangelist, and themeeting closed.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE BABEL OF TONGUES

It is not every town that can boast of such a religious commotion asBethany had during the next three weeks. Rumors of a strange peoplefloated in from Piketon and Shenandoah, rumors of a strange doctrine,a new religion, a really strenuous religion that had left the oldconventional churches high and dry in their formality. The membersof the band who were holding the meeting could speak in "tongues,""unknown tongues" at that. And the demonstrations were wonderful. Thenthe news came that they were coming to Bethany.

They came. There was a band of six--two ministers, their wives, andtwo helpers. They rented the empty store building owned by MayorHempstead and began. The scenes enacted at the meeting were well-nighindescribable. Robert Davis attended one night, two weeks after themeeting had begun, and he said to Mary when he got home:

"Mary, I never saw such demonstrations in all my life before. Wouldyou believe it if I should tell you that I stood in front of the frontrow of seats about ten feet from the platform and that I could nothear a word that those on the platform were singing? It is a fact.The altar extended between the seats and platform and the seekers andthose talking to them were making such a noise that the singing couldno longer be heard.

"Why did they make so much noise?" asked Mary.

"I do not know," replied Robert, "they seemed very much in earnest.Let me tell you something more. I saw young women jiggle and jerkall over until their hair was all thrown down, and their clothingdisarranged. Two or three men were running about on the platform asif they were mad, others danced more gracefully. One or two werebellowing. There were noises that were indescribable, screeches,howls, yells, and several gibbering syllables that no one understood.Some were shaking all over, some were lying prone and stiff, some werefalling down into various attitudes. Why, Mary, it was simply awful.You would never dream of sane people doing such things."

Next morning Kate Newby came over. She came in dancing and talking inthe "unknown tongue."

"Oh, I have got it, I have got it," she exclaimed.

"You have got what?" asked Robert.

"I have got the Holy Ghost, I have the 'tongues,' hallelujah!" shoutedKate.

"What has it done for you?" asked Mary.

"Oh, I have got it, I've got it!" was all the reply Kate would make.

"Did you make a complete consecration to God? Did you seek Him for thecleansing power? Were you brought near to Him? Was your heart broughtvery humble and yielding to God? Tell me how you prayed and what yourfaith took in," said Robert.

"I have got it, I have got it," was all Kate could say about her newexperience. She seemed to be very happy, yet she looked as if she werein a tremendous strain and lines were drawn in her face which denotedcare and anxiety.

"My dear, did you come to the Lord for more of His grace?" asked Mary."If so, we have a sure promise, but what is this 'tongues' that youhave received?"

"That is proof that I have the Holy Ghost," said Kate. "Don't youknow that the apostles spoke in tongues?" But Kate did not know thetheology of the new religion very well.

Robert Davis was determined to know the theological basis of the newoutburst, if it had any; so he went to see the ministers and askedthem for their doctrinal belief.

"Very well, sir, sit down," replied one of the ministers.

"The first Scripture text is a prediction by Christ (Mark 16:17):'They shall speak with new tongues.' The second is where the prophecywas fulfilled (Acts 2:4): 'And they were all filled with the HolyGhost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gavethem utterance.' Next in Acts 10:46: 'For they heard them speak withtongues, and magnify God.'

"Now the doctrine is this: everybody must speak in tongues as theevidence of having received the Holy Spirit. This is the evidence. Doyou have the Holy Ghost? If so, then you have spoken in tongues."

"But," said Robert, "why should one manifestation of the Spirit be anymore of a witness than another manifestation?"

"Oh, you have got to get the 'tongues,'" replied the preacher. "Cometonight and seek the Holy Ghost. Hallelujah!"

But Robert noticed a peculiar accent to this "hallelujah," andalso that every one present seemed to be moved by one dominating,overwhelming spirit or power. Among these people there seemed to bemore seeking for something to exhilarate them than seeking the faceof God for more grace and love. There was an amazing brazenness aboutmost of those who had the "tongues," an air of superiority, a sort ofspiritual pride that disgusted him. When he attempted to reason withthem he found them unreasonably impervious to argument or logic. Hefinally concluded that the doctrine was based on a false claim, amisconception of Scripture.

"No wonder," he said to Mary when he got home, "that these people havegone far beyond the line of reasonableness, when one considers thatlaw of physics which says that the reaction goes about as far as theaction. The truth is, Mary, many churches have become so formal anddead that the cry of mankind is for life, freedom, spiritual power,spiritual joy, spiritual victory. No wonder the pendulum has swungover to the other extreme. The right place is in the middle, betweenthese two extremes. I believe we should go over and see Kate Newby."

Kate Newby had yielded herself fully to the new religious idea. Katewas emotional. When a girl she was easily mesmerized and always tookeverything that was going, diseases and all. However, she was a goodwoman, and true, and conscientious. During the week after she got hernew experience she had dreams and visions, spoke in tongues, read theBible, shouted at every meeting, danced, and became a willing worker.

Along toward the end of the week she began to feel depressed. Astray thought or two forced its way into her excited brain as to thepropriety of some of the demonstrations going on. There were someextremes which her soul could not approve. She began to pray earnestlyfor divine guidance. She remembered her excursion into the wilds offalse religion, into the Christian Science delusion.

Kate was somewhat in this frame of mind when Robert Davis and Marywent over to visit her. At once she asked Robert what he thought ofthe "tongues."

"Kate," answered Robert, "if the Bible says that speaking in a tongueis the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit it is plain that allshould have that evidence. But listen, Kate, are you ready to believethat for all these years, yes for centuries back, God's children havenot had the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Can you believe that D.L.Moody and John Wesley and George Whitefield and men like them did nothave the Spirit?"

"Why, I never thought of that, Robert," said Kate, "it does not lookreasonable, does it?"

"Let us note, Kate," he continued, "that the Bible nowhere says orintimates that speaking in tongues is the essential evidence of thereception of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues is a gift of theSpirit. Paul asks, 'Do all speak with tongues?' (1 Cor. 12:30). Theinference is plain that he did not think they did. These gifts aredistributed to advantage, being given to every man as God wills (1Cor. 12:4-11). The idea that speaking in tongues is the essentialevidence of the reception of the Holy Spirit is chiefly responsiblefor the fanatical extremism that these folks exhibit. Why, Kate Newby,you know that this is not New Testament Christianity, this wild,riotous, noisy thing! It cannot be.

"You see, when one decides that he must speak in tongues as theevidence of the Holy Spirit's baptism, he becomes so eager to doso that he often receives a mental or spiritual deception which heconsiders the real evidence of the Holy Spirit baptism."

"I am beginning to see the deception of it," said Kate. "Yesterday,I believe the good Spirit of God was talking to me. I felt thatsomething was wrong. While I professed to be very happy, still therewas a feeling that I was not right after all. But I thrust the thoughtaside as not coming from God and held on. But, honestly, I am nothappy. I did not consecrate. I just fell in with the spirit of themeeting and got the 'tongues' in a few moments. I doubt if God had anyconnection with it at all."

The next day the town marshall was called to the home of Mrs. JaneSmith. She had embraced the new religion and was losing her mind. Thenew teaching had so upset her that her weak mind could not stand thestrain. She was taken to the asylum, where she remains to this day.

When Kate Newby heard of this she became more convinced that there wassomething wrong with the theory and she thoroughly renounced it.

The "tongues" meeting left Bethany in the worst spiritual conditionthat town had ever been in. Families were torn apart, many personsbecame skeptics, and there were debates, and arguments, and violentclashes almost daily.

It remained in this condition until the time when Evangelist Monteithbegan his second revival the next year.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

A MODEL CHURCH ESTABLISHED

Jesus Christ brought the grandest conception of human brotherhood thatthe world has ever heard. He intended to create a perfect society,and to establish principles of social justice in the earth. He plannedthat sin, with its accompanying maladjustments, should be destroyedand that man should live in harmony with man and with the infiniteCreator. Nothing less than the transformation of society was His goal.His plan of rejuvenation was based on the truth that all men are ofone blood, created by one God, whose children they all are by virtueof that creation. All should have equal claims upon His mercy,goodness, and love, and upon the material blessings which the earthaffords. Divisions into rank, classes, and strata are not the willof God. Jesus put all on one common level when He invited all to comeunto Him and rest, when He said, "Him that cometh to me I will in nowise cast out" (John 6:37).

This work of reforming society goes on like yeast working in dough,particle by particle, a little at a time, but at an accelerating rate.At first there were the twelve apostles and a few others. By and bythere were more. But always and ever Christ carries on His great workthrough His people. First one man is enlightened and saved; he thenbecomes a missionary to enlighten others. They in turn lead others toJesus until there are enough to establish a congregation of the churchof God at whatever point they live. This local congregation becomesthen, a model in miniature of what society would be if all wereChristians. Vast responsibilities rest upon a local congregation. Theyrepresent God. They show forth the power of God and exhibit to theworld the blessed state of the saved. They are responsible to maketheir society attractive, so that sinners may be convicted of theirlack and be persuaded to become members of it. The next several monthsof our narrative embraces the time when God raised up a church, asociety of the saved, in Bethany.

One year after the "tongues" revival, Evangelist Monteith began thesecond revival of the church of God in Bethany. He was accompanied bythree helpers. Robert Davis and Mary were sanctified wholly. Soalso was Jake Newby and Kate, old Mr. Stephenson and Charley Moss.Thirty-five were converted, and twelve besides the ones named weresanctified. Mrs. Thomas Jones was healed of tuberculosis and Dr.Horton, who had been her physician for three years, met her one dayand was much surprised at her appearance.

"Hadn't you heard about my healing, Doctor?" she replied pleasantly."At the meeting recently the Lord touched my body with His healingpower and I do not cough any more, the fever is gone, and I am gainingtwo pounds a week."

"My, if you folks keep on I will starve to death practicing medicine,"said the Doctor.

"Probably we shall not spend money for drugs, Doctor, but there willstill be things you can do for us," said Mrs. Jones. "We are stillunder physical laws and your knowledge will be of great help to us inkeeping well."

In the advertising matter which Robert Davis published at thebeginning of the second revival he publicly repudiated Mormonism,Russell's "No-hell-ism," Adventism, and announced that the meetingwas under the auspices of the church of God. The meeting itself wasso sane, yet so spiritual, that it commended itself to every one whoattended. There were no excesses, and everything was done decently andin order.

On Sunday, the last day of the meeting, the evangelist preached on"The Church, the House of God," and in the afternoon he preached on"The Church, Its Divine Ordinances," after which thirty-nine werebaptized in the river which flowed close by. The minister stood on thebanks and said:

"We have met here this beautiful afternoon, friends, to administer theordinance of baptism. Jesus commanded His ministers in Matt. 28:19and 20--'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in thename of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teachingthem to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.' We gladlyobey the commands of our great Redeemer.

"Baptism does not save the sinner, but it is the answer of a goodconscience, as Peter 3:21 says. Baptism represents our death to sinand our resurrection to righteousness. As Paul, the great apostlesays: 'Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with himthrough the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him fromthe dead.' The whole idea of baptism is beautifully pictured in Romans6:3, 4, 'Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into JesusChrist were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with himby baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the deadby the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness oflife.'

"Once these dear ones were dead in sins, but through repentanceand faith they now are saved. They are, therefore, fit subjects forbaptism."

It was a very solemn occasion. A holy awe covered the crowd, a holyatmosphere was prevalent among the people. One by one the ministerled the candidates down into the typical grave of water and when theyarose out of the water there were praises and thanks given unto Himwho had loved them and washed them from sin in His own blood. Soaffecting was this scene that three persons asked for prayer that theymight be saved.

At 6:00 P.M. the ordinances of feet-washing and the Lord's Supper werecelebrated. When the congregation was assembled the minister said:

"Jesus, on the night of His betrayal, ate the last Passover supperin the upper room with His disciples. Before this supper was endedHe took a towel and washed the disciples' feet, and said: 'If I then,your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash oneanother's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do asI have done unto you ... If ye know these things, happy are ye ifye do them' (John 13:14, 15, 17). We shall follow Jesus in thisordinance. It symbolizes true Christian humility and service one toanother. It symbolizes one of the most tender relationships one personcan hold with another, that of mutual helpfulness in little things. Avery deep lesson it teaches, one that has not been very well learnedby Christians yet."

Then they separated, the men going to one place, the women to another,and participated in the blessed ordinance.

Afterward, they assembled for the Lord's Supper in remembrance ofChrist's death for them.

The effects of this meeting on the people of the town were profound.Some wondered, some scoffed, some were deeply convicted, but many werestirred to the point of discussion and earnest Bible-searching to seeif these things were so. Mr. Johnson, the bookstore man, sold moreBibles the next month after the revival than he had in the wholeprevious year.

The congregation raised up began at once to lay plans for a suitablechurch-building. A lot was donated by one of the new converts, andmany volunteered their services on the new building that was to beerected.

The zeal of the church led them to hold meetings in the neighborhoodsurroundings, one of which was held in the neighborhood of theFairmount School, where the debates had taken place. Peter Newby hadspent considerable time in Bible study since those debates, but whathis conclusions were, no one knew. One Sunday the church announced anall-day meeting and basket dinner in a grove near Peter's house. Therewere many present, but one person, whose eye glistened with the fireof energy, was conspicuous.

"Why, there is old Peter Newby," said Mary to Robert, and they ranover and greeted him cordially.

The evening was given over to a testimony and experience meeting. Manytestified to full salvation. It was to the surprise of Robert and MaryDavis, as well as the others, when Peter Newby arose and said:

"Friends, let me tell you something," and he looked around in thatsame quizzical way and poised his head as he used to do. "I amconvinced." And he stopped again. Everybody listened most attentively."I fought Bob Davis over there ever since he came into thisneighborhood. I fought holiness. I fought divine healing. I foughtthe church of God. I really thought, friends, that the Bible said, 'Hethat saith he liveth and sinneth not is a liar and the truth is not inhim.' But I never found it." And the old man stopped again.

"I have watched this church of God come up in this neighborhood, andI must confess it has done more for this community than anythingthat has ever happened to it since I have been here. It has liftedup several of my neighbors out of sin. It has brought peace to manyhomes.

"I am sorry that I fought this work. God forgive me. I was wrong and Iwas stubborn. But I know now that if a man is a Christian he will notcommit sin."

It was almost overwhelming to Robert and Mary Davis. Tears of joyflowed down their faces. They ran over to old Peter, grasped his arm,and said, "God bless you, Brother Newby, we knew you were honest atheart."

That day Jake Newby recovered the confidence he used to have in hisfather.

These were the beginnings of the church at Bethany, the church ofGod. A church-house was built and the church was organized by the HolySpirit into a working body of saints. Robert Davis soon afterward feltthe inspiration to teach and exhort and he was much used in this way.By and by he preached occasionally until his gifts were recognized bythe church through the laying on of the hands of the ministry.

There was a true catholicity of spirit in this congregation whichcaused them to make all Christians feel at home there. They maintainedunity by keeping close to God. Their Sunday-school soon was thelargest in the town. Three missionaries went from it to foreign,heathen lands, and colporteurs carried the literature of the churchinto every home in the town. The reputation of the church spread farand wide. It became noted for the honesty and humility of its members.The business men of the town had the utmost confidence in the church.It became the greatest power for righteousness in the town, andevery one came to look upon it as the living exponent of the best andhighest in civic life and in social uplift as well as in religion.Zion became a praise in the earth, as the prophet had said.

The events narrated occurred many years ago. Last summer there was areunion of the Davis family in the old home at Bethany. One son hadbecome a minister in the church, the other was the editor of the localnewspaper. One daughter was home on a furlough from China, while theother was married to a Christian brother of the town. Robert Davis, inthe meantime, had preached the whole gospel. He had been instrumentalin raising up several congregations.

"Dad, what is the most interesting experience you ever had in yourlife?" asked Marie one day.

"The most important experience of my life occurred right here, mygirl, when Janet was a baby," he replied. "Here is where your motherand I first became seekers. Here I debated for the truth before Ifully understood it, but I felt it was essential to stand up for whatI knew was truth. Here your mother was healed when life seemed almostgone and the last ray of hope had died in the gathering darkness. HereI first learned of the church of God. Here that good religious paperfirst came to my notice, bringing rays of light to my mind and soul.

"Those were the beginnings, humble ones indeed, but they were thebeginnings of my life of service. My days are about over. My work isabout done. My eyes are dim, and my strength is failing. My race willsoon be over. I have seen the church in Bethany grow into the place ofinfluence it now has, from the very humblest beginnings. I have seenthousands flee to the cross of Jesus for mercy and pardon, and I haveheard the shouts of hundreds that have been sanctified wholly. And Ihave seen many, many sick persons healed.

"My children, be true to God, be true to the cause of truth. Carrythese precious truths to the next generation, unadulterated, as pureas they come from the Bible. Invest your all in God's cause; you willreceive a hundredfold now and hereafter.

"May you ever champion the cause of truth which Jesus Christ came toestablish. The church He built shall stand till the mighty Gabrieldeclares that time shall be no longer, till the judgment-day comes,yea, and afterward she shall live in the heaven of heavens eternallywith her founder and Lord.

"Press on, children, all heaven watches the race you run. Do notbecome negligent, nor worldly, nor lovers of luxury, nor of ease. Liveas good soldiers of Jesus Christ and be crowned victors and conquerorsat last."

A holy awe filled the room as this aged saint gave them hisbenediction. And they said: